| First Cadre Company | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | August 1914 |
| Disbanded | 16–27 August 1914 |
| Country | Austro-Hungarian Empire |
| Branch | Austro-Hungarian Army |
| Type | Infantry &Cavalry |
| Size | 145-168[1] |
| Garrison/HQ | Garnizon Kraków |
| March | Kadrówka |
| Engagements | World War I |
| Commanders | |
| Founder | Józef Piłsudski |
| Initial Commander | Tadeusz Kasprzycki |
| Final Commander | Kazimierz Jan Piątek |
.jpg)
TheFirst Cadre Company (Polish:Pierwsza Kompania Kadrowa) was a Polish military formation created in theAustro-Hungarian Army at the outbreak ofWorld War I. Thecompany was founded byJózef Piłsudski on 3 August 1914 inKraków. It was the predecessor of thePolish Legions, and formed the core of the Polish Legions'First Brigade duringWorld War I.
The First Cadre Company came into formation when theRiflemen's Association and thePolish Rifle Squads were mobilized between 29 July and 2 August 1914 byJózef Piłsudski. At 6pm on 3 August the First Cadre was formally created in the Oleandry district ofKraków (just east ofJordan Park). On 4 and 5 August the Cadre underwent re-organization while the soldiers received short yet extensive training.Tadeusz Kasprzycki was appointed commander. The Cadre consisted of four platoons, each consisting of four groups of 10 soldiers each. The exact number of soldiers varies according to the source, but estimates generally put it at somewhere between 145 and 168 soldiers,[1] which included the notableThe Seven Lancers of Belina.[2]
On 6 August 1914 theAustro-Hungarian Empire declared war on theRussian Empire. At a quarter to three on the morning of that day, the First Cadre set out for the Austro-Hungarian — Russian border. It crossed intoTsarist Poland at the border village ofMichałowice. On 8 August commander Kasprzycki was transferred to the General Command and replaced byKazimierz Jan Piątek [pl]. The first eight volunteers were accepted into the Cadre's ranks on the same day.[3] On 12 August the First Cadre participated in the capture ofKielce in full battalion strength alongside the Second Company, led byStanisław Tessaro [pl], and the Third Company, led byWacław Scaevola-Wieczorkiewicz. The First Cadre then attempted to break through the Russian lines and continue north. The objective was to capture Warsaw in hope of setting off an uprising inTsarist Poland against the Russian authorities. However, the Russians checked the First Cadre just outside Kielce on 13 August, which resulted in the Cadre's retreat from Kielce to Kraków.
Between 16 and 27 August, the First Cadre was reorganized and transformed into thePolish Legions. It is difficult to set an exact date for the transformation — theSupreme National Committee called for the formation of the Polish Legions on 16 August,[4] Józef Piłsudski called for its formation on 22 August, and the Austrian government officially agreed to its formation on 27 August.[5] All three dates can be found simultaneously representing both the disbandment of the First Cadre and the formation of the Polish Legions, depending on the source. However the First Cadre Company formed the core of theFirst Brigade of the Polish Legions by mid-December 1914.[2]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
